Multi-speed drives for phonograph turntables



Aug. 20, 1957 AN 2,803,141

MULTI-SPEED DRIVES FOR PHONOGRAPH TURNTABLES Filed Nov. 14, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. p L m HIS A TTOP/VE rs.

Aug. 20', 1957 HARTMAN 2,803,141

MULTI-SPEED DRIVES FOR PHONOGRAPH TURNTABLES Filed Nov. 14, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 2 YINVENTOR.

BY W* Aug. 20, 1957 H. 1.. HARTMAN 2,803,141

MULTI-SPEED DRIVES FOR PHONOGRAPH TURNTABLES ,Filed Nov. 14, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 20, 1957 H. HARTMAN Q MULTI-SPEED DRIVES FOR PHONOGRAPH TURNTABLESFiled NOV. 14 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

BY W W) 2,803,141 Patented Aug. 20, 1957 MULTI-SPEED DRIVES FORPHONOGRAPH TURNTABLES Herbert L. Hartman, Elyria, Ohio, assignor to TheGeneral Industries Company, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication November 14, 1951, Serial No. 256,290 15 Claims. (Cl.74-200) My invention relates to selective inulti-speed drives forphonographs and more particularly to a unitary change-speed frictionaldrive mechanism having a final drive pulley wheel which is adapted to beselectively driven at different rotational speeds, and whose peripheralrim is adapted to be applied to a phonograph turntable supporttofrictionally drive the turntable.

More specifically, my present invention involves a drive mechanism ofthe above class and comprises a motor pendantly supported by a commonframe for all parts of the mechanism, said motor affording a drive shaftwhich comprises an upwardly extending end portion which is diametricallystepped to provide a series of pulley portions of different diametersand wherein a plurality of idler pulleys are adapted to beinterchangeably laterally moved to an operative position to befrictionally driven by different of said pulley portions, and in turn tofrictionally drive a final drive wheel which is adapted for peripheralengagement with an annular pendant flange of a phonograph turnable,whereby the rotational speed of said turntable may be selectively variedby selectively moving an appropriate one of said idler pulleys to theaforesaid operative position of engagement with its associated drivingstep of said motor shaft.

The mechanism of my invention, therefore, involves improvement over thattype of change-speed turntables driving mechanisms as that which isdisclosed in the prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,438,265 toRobert G. Metzner wherein the rotational speed of a turntabledrivingidler wheel is selectively varied as a result of vertical adjusting saidwheel to the different levels of a plurality of motor shaft steps, andat the same time my invention involves improvement over that type ofphonograph turntable drives which isdisclosed in the prior LettersPatent to Paul Stead Gay No. 2,518,769, which involves the provision ofa series of relatively laterally interspaced idler pulleys, each havinga pair of vertically interspaced pulley portions whose diameters are indifferent ratios in the case of different pulleys of the series, andwherein the upper and lower idler pulley portions of each of saidpulleys, when in an operative position of adjustment, are respectivelyengaged with the wheel periphery, and the said pulley portion of a motorshaft, said pulleys being adapted for processional adjustment movementsto and from such an operative position.

The mechanism of this invention, therefore, involves the use of astepped motor shaft in combination with a series of laterallyinterspaced pulley elements each of which is adapted to beinterchangeably frictionally engaged with a different step of adiametrically stepped motor shaft and for concurrent frictional drivingengagement with the idler wheel, in response to lateral processionaladjustment movements of all of said idler pulleys, whereby greatersimplicity of design and operation, a lower cost of production, and ahigh degree of reliability of eflicient operation, is realized.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to-provide an. improvedselective change-speed friction drive for flanged type phonographturntables which is simple in construction and which is reliablyefficient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to achieve selective change-speeddriving of a turntable friction drive wheel without the necessity of useof costly cam mechanisms to elevate or lower said wheel.

Another object of my invention is to achieve the benefits of the aboveobjectives, in that type of mechanisms wherein a pluraliy of idlerpulley elements are adapted for different lateral adjustments to selectany one thereof to effect communication of driving motion from a motorshaft to a final drive friction wheel, in a structure wherein all pulleyportions of each said elements are of like diameters.

Another object of my invention is to pre-select different rotationalspeeds of a final drive wheel of the mechanism by providing a motorshaft having a plurality of superposed pulley portions of relativelydifferent diameters and a plurality of idler pulley elements, each beinginterchangeably movable to a like lateral position to frictionallyengage and be driven by different of said superposed motor shaftportions.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved mechanism,wherein advantages of the aforesaid prior mechanisms are retained anddisadvantages thereof are eliminated, and having the further advantagesof greater simplicity and lower cost, over such prior mechanisms, aswill be understood by those skilled in the art.

Different embodiments of the invention and the invention itself will beunderstood by reference to the drawings hereof, and to the followingdescriptive specification in which reference is made to said drawings,whereof- Fig. l is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontaltransverse section of an embodiment of my invention as applied to apendantly flanged phonograph turntable;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mounting plate for, and parts of theembodiments of Fig. l secured to said plate, no showing of the turntableand the final drive wheel being included herein, except that a segmentof the turntable flange and the outline of said wheel, in operativepositions, are indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is in part a section taken on the line 3'-3 of Fig. 1, the motorand motor shaft being shown in side elevation and the view showing oneof two idler pulleys which is shown as having a lowermost, of a pair ofrelatively superposed pulley portions in its position of frictionaldriving engagement with a lowermost larger pulley portion of the shaft,and its 'upper pulley portion being engaged with the metal periphery ofa duplex final drive wheel;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, which issimilar to the view of Fig. 3, except that the alternative idler pulleyis herein shown as making frictional driving engagement by its singlepulley portion, both with a relatively smaller upper pulley portion ofsaid shaft and with the aforesaid metal periphery of the wheel;

Fig. 5 is a view partly on the line of section 5-5 of Fig. l, and beingpartly in side elevation, showing the utilization of an upper frictionpulley portion of said idler wheel for driving engagement with an innertubular surface of a pendant turntable flange;

Fig. 6 is a view taken as from the line of section 66 of Fig. 2, showingthe spring biased laterally free floating carrier for the aforesaididler wheel of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, together with the mount for saidcarrier all shown in side elevation with a portion of the supportingframe, only, being shown in section; v

Fig. 7 is atop plan viewof portions of the mechanism of Fig. l, withcertain adjustable speed selector parts in an intermediate position,which is only assumed during move ment of said parts from one towardanother operative posltlon;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the operating selector, adjustment lever, ofthe mechanism of the foregoing figures;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the idler pulley carrier of Fig. 1, with apair of idler pulleys journalled thereon;

Fig. ,11 is a section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view generally of the nature of Fig. 1, showing a secondembodiment of my invention adapted to drive a turntable at any of threerotational speeds.

In each of Figs. 13 and 14 there is shown, for the said secondembodiment of Fig. 12, side-by-side views respectively of pulleyportions of a three-stepped motor shaft, for each of three idler pulleyelements, and of the associated duplex type of final drive pulley wheel,all of which are shown at their comparative relative operative levels;

Fig. 15 is of the general same nature of that of Fig. 13. but shows anarrangement of shaft and idler pulley elements suitable for use inconnection with the morecommon simplex type of rubber treaded finaldrive pulley wheel.

Referring now to the disclosures by drawings hereof. Figs. 1 to 11inclusive illustrate a first embodiment of my invention, the showingthereof being of a unitary motor drive mechanism which is adapted todrive a phonograph turntable 1, carried by, and being rotatable with asupporting post 3, journalled on a platform 2, at any of a plurality ofspeeds according to the selected position of a manually adjustableselector lever 4.

The aforesaid selector lever 4 is shown in one operative position ofadjustment in Figs. 1 and 3 and in alternative operative adjustedposition in Figs. 2 and 4. Although as hereinafter explained themechanism of my invention is adapted to selectively drive the turntable1 at any of more than two different rotative speeds, the embodiment ofFigs. 1 to 10 inclusive is shown as adapted for either of two differentspeeds only.

The mechanism of my invention is unitarily carried by a mounting plate12 by securing bolts 13 to an apertured supporting platform 2 for such aturntable as that at 1, to adapt the rubber pulley rim 7b of the finaldrive wheel 7 of the mechanism, for lateral pressure engagement with theinner surface of the pendant tubular flange 1a of such turntable tocause said turntable to be driven by the motor M, which is pendantlysupported by the plate by means of screws 11, with the diametricallystepped upper end of the motor shaft 16 being projected upwardly throughan aperture 14 of said plate. The plate 12 and platform 2 are relativelysound insulated by the interposition of rubber or like grommets 13a.

Whereas the drawings are intended to show a construction adapted toselectively achieve driving of a turntable such as that at 1, at twodifferent speeds which are in the ratio of 33:45, such relative rotativespeeds may be in variant ratios, the true ratio being determined by therelative diameters of the upper and lower pulley steps 5 and 6 of themotor shaft 16, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, either of which are, at will,selectively effective to frictionally drive a different one of the pairof idler pulley elements Which are respectively and generally indicatedby the reference characters 8 and 9, which are interchangeably adaptedfor selective frictional driving engagement with the metal pulleyportion 7a of the final drive idler wheel 7.

The final drive wheel 7 is of duplex construction, having the aforesaidmetal pulley portion 7a which is of relatively larger diameter,additionally supports an uppermost coaxial rubber pulley 7b which is ofrelatively reduced diameter. The pulley portion 7a thus functions as thepower input pulley of the wheel, whereas the pulley 7b is the powertake-off pulley thereof since its preferably rubber rim 7b is adapted tobe engaged, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, with the internal tubularsurface of a pendant tubular flange 1a of such a turntable as is shownat 1,

which is here shown as being of a recent commercial type whose diameteris usually about five inches.

The pulley 7b is peripherally fitted onto a tubular flange 7c which isrigidly secured by its base within a central aperture of the cup-shapedpulley 7a, said tubular flange also affording a hub for said duplexidler wheel element. A journal post 15a for the wheel extends upwardlyfrom a universally laterally movable U-shaped supporting plate 15, atubular bearing bushing 15 being telescoped over said post within saidtubular flange 7c, and is maintained in place between the post shoulder15c and a washer 15d by a screw 15:; threaded into the upper end of thepost 15a.

The post 15a is rigidly secured by riveting its lower end to the webportion of the U-shaped member 15, the arms of said member extend inlaterally interspaced parallel relation between radial flanges 21 and 22of a post 23, which flanges afford a supporting slideway for said armsand on which the member 15 may be rotatably swung, and at the same timemay be longitudinally slid. A pin 15b carried by one of the arms of saidmember, by engagement with the lateral surfaces of the post flanges 21and 22, prevents undue longitudinal forward movement 0 the member 15.

A tensile spring 24 secured at its two ends, to a pin 24a carried by theframe 12, and at 2411 to the web of the U-shaped member, yieldably tendsto so move the idler wheel 7 as to cause its pulley 7b to engage theinner cylindrical surface of the turntable flange 1a and tosimultaneously effect pressure engagement by the wheel pulley 7a withthat one of the idler pulleys 18 or 19 which is in adjusted operativeposition as shown for the pulley 18 in Figs,- 1 and 3, and for thepulley 19 in Figs. 2 and 4.

The idler pulley elements 8 and 9 are best shown in Fig. 11, eachthereof having an uppermost single rubber pulley, each beingrespectively shown at 18 and 19, and both said pulleys are located atthe level of the pulley flange 7a of the duplex idler wheel element 7with which said pulleys 18 and 19 are selectively interchangeablyadapted to be peripherally engaged.

The idler pulley element 8 is provided with a second rubber pulley 18::which is disposed at the lower level of the lowermost motor shaft step6. Referring particularly to Fig, 11, the idler pulley elements 8 and 9are similarly provided with a tubular metal hub a, which is preferablyclosed at its upper end, and into which a metal bearing liner bushing bis tightly fitted. Posts 8c and on which the respective pulley elements8 and 9 are journalled, are secured to a swingable supporting plate 40,by their reduced lower rivet end extensions 1 each of which are firstprojected through diiferent of a pair of small laterally interspacedapertures of said pulley plate 40, said ends being then riveted over atthe under side of said plate to fixedly secure said posts thereto. Eachof said posts is intermediately circumferentially grooved to permit aC-spring wire 8d to be disposed within the groove, each said springbeing adapted to yieldably frictionally restrain removal of each saidelement 8 or 9 from its associated journal post.

Although two rubber pulleys 13 and 18a for the element 8, are shown inrelatively superposed interspaced relation on the hub a of the pulleyelement 8, a single rubber longer pulley may be substituted for saidpair of pulleys, provided that such single pulley shall be of suchlongitudinal extent that its upper portion shall be disposed at thelevel of said idler wheel pulley 7a, and at the same time, its lowerportion shall be at the level of the aforesaid lower motor shaft step 6,so that said portions may respectively be concurrently engaged with saidpulley 7a and said shaft step pulley 6, such an elongated pulley beingshown at 42, in Fig. 13, later referred to.

The swingable plate 40, which supports the idler pulley elements, isjournalled to permit swinging adjustment movements about the axis of amachine screw 20, in response to swinging adjustment movement impartedto an underlyingswingable plate 4 whichi-s provided with a laterallyextending handle 4a, which is movable to different adjustment positionsin a path of movement of like directional nature throughout its extent.

Swinging adjustment movements of the plate handle 4a is communicatedthrough the plate 4 to the adjustable pulley-supporting plate 40, byvirtue of an upstanding stud projection 4b which at its lower end isrigidly secured to the handle plate 4 and projects upwardly through anaperture 40x of the pulley plate 40, the diameter of said aperture beingsubstantially in excess of that of the projection 4b whereby alost-motion interlockingrelation between said plate 4 and said plate 40is effected. Similarly, the plates 40 and 4 are secured together by thescrew 20 over the lower end portion of which adjacent to its head istelescoped a metallic bushing having a lowermost radial flange and anupstanding tubular flange.

To swingingly adjust the idler pulley supporting plate 40, theunderlying actuating plate 4 having the outwardly extending handle aresecured to the common frame 12 by a screw 20 which is projected upwardlythrough the bore of a bushing 31, having a lowermost radial flange 31band an upstanding tubular flange 310, the latter being successivelyprojected through the elongated aperture 31a of the assembly plate 12,and a circular aperture of said actuating plate, the threaded end ofsaid screw then being tightly secured within the small threaded apertureof the plate 40, and said screw being effective to clamp said .bushingagainst the underside of the plate 40, and said assembly of plates 40and 4 being together end-wise reciprocable, by lateral movements of thetubular flange 310 along the major axis of the elongated plate opening31a, the end edges of said elongated opening limiting such movements.

- Limited relative rotation of the plates 4 and 40 is permitted to theextent of play between the sides of a relatively interlocking upstandingpin 4b, secured to the plate 4, and the edges of an aperture 40x oflarger diameter, into which said pin projects. Aligned arcuate openings29 and 29a of the respective plates 40 and 4 and a circular opening ofthe main plate 12 permit the pulley end portion of the motor shaft to befreely projected vertically upwardly through said plates, even when theplates 4 and 40 are swung to their extreme opposite adjusted positions.

A swingable lever 25, intermediately carrying an upstanding locking pin25a, is journalled at one end on the pin 24a which is rigidly secured tothe plate 12, and is biased by. a spring 25b which is secured by its twoends respectively to the opposite end 250 of the lever 25, and to theframe 12, at 25d, said spring being yieldably effective to snap thelocking pin 25a into one or another of the end edge notches 27 and 28 ofthe swingably selector plate 40 which carries the idler pulley elements8 and 9, to ensure that a selected pulley is located in its properoperative position. To place either selected of the pulley elements inthe respective operative positions of Figs. 1 and 3 for the element SandFigs. 2 and 4 for the element 9, wherein the pulley 18 or the pulley 19of the selected element is in power transmitting frictional drivingrelation with the periphery of the idler wheel pulley 7a, andrespectively concurrently the pulley 18a, or the pulley 19, is likewisefrictionally engaged with the shaft steps 6 or 5, respectively, thehandle 4a is swung from one side as in Figs. 1 or 2, to the other side.

Such handle movements are about the axis of the screw 20 (Fig. 7 and areeffective to move said pulley elements processionally arcuately. Theelongated aperture 31a of the main plate 12 permits slight variationsfrom true arcuity of plate movements which is desirable to ensureuniform pressure of engagement between the different-said idler pulleysand the relatively engaging shaft steps and the wheel pulley 7a.

The lever 25 transmits to the plate 4 and 40 biasing spring pressureexerted, by the spring 25b, by virtueof the engagement between'theleverengaged edges of the plates and the pin 25a, carried by said lever,to ensure sufficient but not excessive pressure between respective ofthe shaft steps 5 or 6 with the operatively positioned one of the idlerpulleys 19 or 1811 according to the swung adjustment position of theidler pulley elements 9 or 8 respectively, and said spring 25b and lever25 also are effective to yieldably so bias that one of the idler pulleyelements 8 or 9 which has been adjustably swung to its operativeposition, between the wheel pulley 7a and the shaft, in such a directionthat the periphery of its pulley portion 18a or 19, will bespring-pressed against its associated engageable shaft step.

To some extent the spring 24 by force resiliently supplied to thelaterally movable support 15 for the wheel 7, supplements and adds tothe pressure engagement, between said pulley 19 or 18a and the therebyengaged shaft step, which is effected by the aforesaid spring 25b.

The cam surfaces of the edge 4c of the plate 4 are adapted to cam thepin 25a of the lever 25 outwardly of the notches 27 and 28 against thepressure of the spring 25b, to permit the plate 4 to transmit swingingadjustment movement to the plate 40 and to permit its displacement bythe pin 4b, from either adjusted position as respectively shown in Fig.1 or 2, wherein it has been previously locked by said pin 2511 beingprojected into one of said notches, to the alternative adjustmentposition wherein said pin is caused to enter the other of said notches.

The above arrangement of plates, and ancillary locking pin, issubstantially the same as disclosed in the previously identified Gaypatent, to which reference may be had with respect thereto.

From the foregoing, the operationv of the first embodiment of myinvention, as shown by Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, will be readilyunderstood, such operation being here briefly summarized. Assuming themechanism comprising the final drive idler wheel 7, the idler pulleys 8and 9, and the motor M, the latter with the uppermost portion of itsshaft being formed to provide the superposed shaft steps 5 and 6 being,with means ancillary thereto as described, unitarily carried by theplate 12, said mechanism is applied to the driving of such a turntableas that shown at 1, and for this purpose by screws and grommets 13 and13a, the plate is secured to the turntable platform 2 as shown, with theperiphery of the rubber pulley portion 7b of the duplex final drivepulley wheel being maintained in spring-pressed engagement with theinner surface of the turntable flange 1a, by virtue of the spring 24. Atsuch time the second pulley 7a of said wheel is, by pressure of the samespring 24, pressure-engaged with that one or the other of the idlerpulleys 18 or 19 which is in adjusted operative position, which foreither of the-pulley elements 8 or 9, will hereafter be understood to bethat position wherein the uppermost idler pulley of such element isengaged with said wheel pulley 7a.

To achieve selective operative positioning of one or the other of saidpulley elements it is only necessary to swing the handle 4a of the lever4 to the right or left, as may be necessary to place the pulley elements8 and 9 in that adjusted position wherein the desired uppermost pulley18 or 19 is engaged with said idler wheel pulley 7a, i. e. as shown inFigs. 1 and 3 for the uppermost idler pulley 18 or the element 8, and asshown in Figs. 2 and 4 for the idler pulley 19 of the element 9. Thesteps 5 and 6 of the motor shaft have effective diameters which arerelatively proportional to the turntable speeds which result when one orthe other of said steps is frictionally engaged with its respectivelyrelatively associated idler pulley 19 or 18. Y

Thus, for desired turntable speeds of 33 and 45 R. P. M. to be achievedby frictional driving of the respective pulley elements 9 and 8 by therespective drive shaft pulley portions 5 and 6, the effective diameterof said shaft. step pulley portions 5 and 6 should be in the ratio of33:45, and all of the rubber idler pulleys shown at 19, 18 and .18a,arehere assumed to be of relatively like diameters, but with variationsbeing pernfiissihle,

The wheel 7 being 'frictionally driven by engagement of one or the otherof the idler pulleys 19 r 18 with its lowermost wheel pulley 7a, and theuppermost wheel pulley 7b being frictionally engaged with the flange 1aof the turntable 1, the turntable will be driven at the the sameperipheral speed as that of the periphery of said pulley 7b. Theeffective diameter of said pulley 7b, in the exemplary showing of thedrawings, being about forty percent (40%) of the diameter of the pulley7a, its peripheral speed will be correspondinly reduced, relative tothat of the wheel pulley 7a, and the peripheral speed of the turntable1, driven thereby, will be correspondingly reduced.

The handle 4a being integral with the plate 4, provides a lever handletherefor which when manually or otherwise swung laterally in oppositedirections will interchangeably dispose either of the pulley elements 8and 9 in the operative positions shown for each, respectively in Figs. 1and 3.

With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. l, the lowermost pulleyportion 18a of the element 8 is operatively engaged with the pulley 7aof the duplex idler wheel 7.

In the above case the motor shaft being rotated, the shaft step 6affords a driving pulley to drive the pulley 18a of the element 3 whichis thereby rotated while frictionally driving the idler wheel pulley 7a,whereby the uppermost wheel pulley 7b which is engaged with the innersurface of the turntable flange drives said turntable at a rate of speedwhich depends on the rate of rotation of the motor shaft, and the ratioof diameters of the shaft step 6 to the pulley 18a; other factors suchas the relative diameters of the duplex wheel pulley 7a and 7b, aselsewhere herein referred, may further modify the driving ratio betweenthe shaft 16 and a turntable such as that shown at 1. l

The provision of rubber instead of smooth metal surfaces for the wheelpulley 7b, and for the idler pulleys 18 and 19, is for the purpose ofmaking one of each pair of relatively engaging pulley surfaces ofrubber, whereas the other thereof is of smooth metal, whereby greaterfriction is achieved between the driving and/or driven surfaces of eachpair.

In either position of adjustment of the plate 40, to dispose either ofthe idler pulley 19 or 18a in engagement with the respective upper orlower pulley steps or 6 of the shaft 16, the other of said idler pulleys18a or 19, is maintained out of contact with any pulley step of saidshaft.

Also when the lower pulley 18a of the element 8 is in engagement withits operatively associated shaft pulley step 6, as shown in Fig. 3,since the diameter of the upper pulley 18 of said element 8 is notgreater than, and as here shown, is equal to the diameter of the lowerpulley 18a, and the shaft pulley step 6 being of greater l diameter thanthe upper step 5, the said upper pulley 18 cannot then be engaged withthe upper shaft pulley step 5, but instead is solely engaged with themetal periphery of the pulley 7a of the duplex wheel pulley 7. Thus, thelower pulley 18a is driven from said lower shaft pulley step 6, thusrotating the common hub a for both upper and lower idler pulleys, andthus the tional driving engagement with, the motor shaft step result ofengagement of the rubber-treaded wheel pulley 7b with the turntableflange 1a. Y

The pulley element 9 has but the single rubber pulley 19 whose differentsides may be concurrently engaged respectively with the upper shaftpulley step 5, and with the said lower duplex wheel pulley 7a.

All of Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive are showings of mechanisms, generally ofthe nature of those of Figs. 1 to 11 hereof, but differing therefrom, inthat they show such a mechanism which is adaptable to drive a turntableat any of three different speeds which, for instance, may be 33 R. P.M., R. P. M., and 78 R. P. M.

In Fig. 12 a showing is made of the use of a final drive wheel 79affording a single pulley having a rubber rim directly engaged with aturntable flange 100 and also adapted for selective engagement with anuppermost metal pulley 44, 45 or 46 of one or the other of the idlerpulley elements 57, 58 or 59, which are shown in side elevation in theintermediate showing of Fig. 15.

Fig. 12 is more particularly related to Fig. 15 which shows, partly inelevation and partly in vertical trans verse section, views of theseveral parts involved in the transmission of power from the motor tothe turntable, a fragment only of which is shown at the correct relativeelevation with respect to the parts of the idler pulley elements 57, 58and 59, and to the successive steps 50, and 88 of the motor shaft 109,an uppermost fragment of which is shown at the left in Fig. 15, saidsteps being respectively laterally aligned with the rubber pulleys 41b,42b and 43b of the respective said elements.

Figs. 12 and 15 show a rubber rim r for the idler wheel 70, whereby itis adapted for eflicient frictional engagement with each of the metalidler pulleys 44,. 45 and 46, and also with the metal turntable flange100. The effective diameter of said wheel 70, is so co-related with thediameters of each of the shaft steps 51), 60 and 80, and with the rateof rotation of the shaft 109, that the wheel 70 will drive the turntableat any desired one of the aforesaid desired respective rotationalspeeds, when the respective rubber pulleys 41b, 42b and 4312 are each,in turn, engaged with the shaft steps 50, 60 and 80, which, as shown inFig. 15, are at the respective levels of the different of said rubberpulleys.

At the right side of Fig. 15 is shown the final drive wheel 70 whose rim70r is shown in engagement with the flange of a phonograph turntable,said rim being also adapted to be engaged and driven by any of thepulleys 44, 45 or 46 as may be operatively adjusted by the handle 104a,Fig. 12, to effect such engagement. The said pulleys, shown at themiddle of Fig. 15, are carried by different rotatable hubs a which areseparately journalled in laterally interspaced relation on the commonswingably adjustable plate 140, said plate being adjustably swung by theunderlying plate 104 having a handle 104a in the same manner as theplate 4 swings the plate 40 as previously described in the embodiment ofFig. 1 to 11 inclusive; the uppermost fragment of the motor shaft 109 isshown at the left side of each of Figs. 13, 14 and 15.

The use of a metal pulley at the upwardly extended end of the pulleyelements 44, 45 and 46 of Fig. 15 is to improve the frictional drivingfunction, as compared to the use of a rubber pulley to drive such awheel pulley as that at 70 which has a rubber rim 70r, since theapparatus of Fig. 15 is intended to drive a wheel pulley 70 of the typehaving such a rubber rim 70r, and which can, therefore, eflicientlydrive a metal flange 100 of a turntable.

The showings of Figs. 13 and 14 are of the same type as those of Fig.15, except that the duplex idler wheel 7 of the first describedembodiment, is shown therein, and resultantly only rubber pulleys areprovided for the idler pulley elements 41, 42 and 43 of Fig. 13, and forthe similar elements 41a, 42a and 43a of Fig. 14. H

Actually the showings of Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, are functionallyidentical, the only difference being that in Fig.

14, the upper and lower pulley portions 42" and 43" for the idler pulleyelements 42 and 43 respectively are relatively longitudinallyinterspaced, whereas in Fig. 13, both upper and lower pulley portionsfor each of the corresponding pulley elements 42a and 43a are each shownas being merely upper and lower portions of a single tubular rubberpiece.

The single rubber pulley 41 of Fig. 13, and the single rubber pulley 41aof Fig. 14, correspond, functionally and in structure, with the pulley19 of the element 9 of the first described embodiment hereof, beingsimilarly selectively concurrently engageable with the uppermost shaftstep 50, and with the rim of the pulley 7a of the duplex wheel 7 toeffect driving of the wheel by said uppermost shaft step.

With respect to the lowermost pulley portions of the elongated rubberpulleys 42 and 43 of Fig. 13 which portions are respectively at thelevels of the respective shaft steps 60 and 80; said portions arerespectively adapted to be selectively engaged with the said respectivesteps whenever the associated uppermost pulley portion of the samepulley element is selectively engaged with the wheel pulley 7a;similarly, the lower rubber pulleys 42" and 43" are respectivelyselectively engageable with the respective shaft steps 60 and 80,whichever is at the same level, whenever the associated uppermost rubberpulley 42a or 4301 is selectively engaged with the wheel pulley 7a.

The operation of the embodiments of 12 and 15, and also thoserespectively outlined in Figs. 13 and 14 will be well understood fromthe foregoing, and including the disclosures which relate to Figs. 1 to11.

The different embodiments of my invention previously described possessthe advantages that the single stepped motor shaft or driving pulleythereof affords by said steps, a plurality of power take-off pulleys,whose relative diameters are different, whereby those of greaterdiameter will impart to a driven pulley a greater peripheral speed thanwill those of less diameter and such peripheral speed may be, thenceimparted by such pulley to the final drive wheel, which may be of thesimplex type shown in Fig. 12 or to one of the pulleys of the duplexwheel 7 of the first embodiment whereby reduced peripheral speeds may beimparted to the turntable by the second pulley of said wheel which is ofless diameter.

The use of the duplex pulley is optional but possesses the advantagethat where, as in Figs. 1 to 11, the turntable is of relatively smalldiameter, the pulley steps of the motor shaft may be made relativelylarger than otherwise would be the case if a simplex type wheel wereemployed to drive such a turntable. However, for driving of turntablesof the usual greater diameter, it is believed that the simplex wheelwill usually be preferred.

In the said embodiments, the idler pulleys of the character of thoseshown at 18 and 18a are employed which are of like diameters which is aconvenience in manufacture, and for most purposes, no advantage will beachieved by making relatively upper and lower pulleys of a set ofdifferent diameters to modify the driving ratio between the final drivewheel and the pulley portions of the motor shaft.

However, in the broader aspect of my invention such variations indiameters, between upper and lower pulleys of the same pulley element oras between pulleys of different pulley elements, may be employed toachieve a somewhat different driving ratio between the motor shaft andthe turntable.

Having shown herein a two-speed selective drive mechanism in Figs. 1 to11 inclusive and three-speed drive mechanisms in Fig. 12 to 15inclusive, it will be understood that by adding additional pulleyelements to increase their number and disposing these in laterallyinterspaced relation on a somewhat wider adjustable mounting plate suchas that shown at 40, Figs. 10 and 11, or at 140, Fig. 12, and by addingadditional stepped portions 10 to the shaft 16 or 109 a greater numberof'turntable speeds may be selectively achieved.

It will be understood that the drawings are not necessarily made toscale, but the dimensions thereof will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art in view of the descriptive specification hereof, andit will be further understood that with the diameters of the differentmotor steps being approximately in direct proportion to the rate ofrotation of the turntable, the rate of roation of the motor shaft underload, is a factor in the correct determinaiton of the precise diametersof said steps, since it is obvious that a motor speed of 3000 R. P. M.will drive the turntable at a fifty percent (50%) greater rotation ratethan would a motor of 2000 R. P. M. Hence, the shaft stepped diametersmust, in each case, be co-related with the rotational rate of the motorshaft during actual use of the mechanisms.

Having thus described my invention in different embodiments, I am awarethat other numerous and extensive departures to those herein set forthmay be made, but without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a multi-speed frictional drive mechanism for phonograph turntableshaving a pendant annular flange, the eombinaiton with a frame unitarilysupporting all parts of the mechanism which comprises a friction drivingpulley wheel adapted for peripheral friction driving engagement with theflange of a turntable, a motor pendantly supported by the frame with anend portion of its drive shaft projected upwardly through an aperture ofthe frame, said shaft portion being of stepped formation so as to afforda plurality of friction pulley steps which are of successively reduceddiameters proceeding upwardly to an uppermost pulley step which is ofleast diameter, a plurality of idler pulley elements, an adjustablymovable turret member on which said idler pulley elements are journalledfor rotation on relatively parallel and laterally interspaced axes, atleast one of said pulley elements having a pair of pulley portions whichare respectively disposed at different levels, and each element havingone uppermost pulley portion which is disposed at the level of a pulleyportion of said wheel, each of said uppermost pulley portions of thedifferent elements being adapted to be interchangeably frictionallyengaged with a pulley portion of said wheel in response to adjustmentmoveturret member to relatively different adments of said justrnentpositions, and each said element having a pulley element which in thecase of different elements is respectively located at the level of arelatively different one of said shaft pulley steps and is adapted tofrictionally concurrently engage that shaft step which is at the levelthereof whenever the said uppermost pulley portion of the same elementis engaged with said wheel pulley portion.

2. The mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 1, wherein thestepped end portion of the shaft is of substantially non-compressiblematerial, and all' said pulley portions of said idler pulley elementsbeing of rubber or functionally equivalent relatively compressiblematerial.

3. The mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 1, wherein all saidpulley portions of said idler pulleys are of corresponding diameters.

4. The mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 1, wherein arelatively lower pulley portion of each pair afforded by any said idlerpulley element being engageable with a step of said shaft which is ofgreater diameter than a relatively upper shaft pulley step which is atthe level of the relatively upper of said pair of idler pulley portions,and said upper and lower idler pulley portions being respectively ofsuch diameters that during such engagement of a lower shaft pulley stepby said lower idler pulley portion, the opposing outer surfaces of saidupper shaft step and said upper idler pulley portion are relativelylaterally interspaced as a result of said engagement.

5. The mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 1,

characterized by said idler wheel having a pair of relatively superposedco-axial pulley portions, the periphery of one of which is ofcompressible material which is engageable with a lateral surface of aturntable flange to drive the turntable, and the periphery of the otherof said co-axial pulley portions being selectively engageable with oneor another of said uppermost pulley portions of the respective idlerpulley elements.

6. In a multi-speed frictional drive mechanism for phonograph turntableshaving a pendant annular flange, the combination with a frame unitarilysupporting all parts of the mechanism, said parts comprising a frictiondriving pulley wheel having a rubber faced peripheral portion which isadapted for peripheral friction driving engagement with the flange of aturntable, a motor pendantly supported by the frame with an upstandingend portion of its shaft being of stepped formation so as to afford aplurality of friction pulley steps which are of relatively differentdiameters, a plurality of idler pulley elements, each affording at leasta single pulley, a support member on which said elements are journalledfor rotation on relatively parallel and laterally interspaced verticalaxes, said support member being so carried by said frame, and being soadjustably movable in lateral directions as to processionally andconcurrently move all said elements in a path of movement which issubstantially of like directional nature throughout, to selectivelyinterchangeably dispose any of them in a common operative position,wherein one pulley portion of any of different of said elements, isdisposed at the level of a relatively different one of said shaft stepsand is adapted for engagement with that shaft step which is at its samelevel, at least one of said pulley elements having a plurality of pulleyportions disposed at different levels and each element having oneuppermost pulley portion which is disposed at the level of a .pulleyportion of said wheel, each of said uppermost pulleyportions of thedifferent elements being adapted to be interchangeably frictionallyengaged with a pulley portion of said wheel in response to suchadjustment movement of said support member which is required to disposethat pulley portion of the element in relatively different adjustmentpositions and each said different element having a pulley element whichin the case of the said different elements is respectively located atthe level of a respectively different one of said shaft steps, and whichis adapted to frictionally concurrently engage that shaft step which isat the level thereof whenever the said uppermost pulley portion of thesame element is engaged with said wheel pulley portion.

7. A plural-speed friction drive mechanism for selectively driving aphonograph turntable of the type having an annular flange, at differentspeeds, comprising a vertical motor shaft of stepped formation to afforda plurality of pulley steps of relatively different diameters, a finaldrive wheel having a friction tread which is adapted to be peripherallyengaged with the flange of a turntable, a laterally movable mountaffording a journal upon which said wheel is rotatable about a verticalaxis, a laterally adjustable pulley carrier, a plurality of idler pulleyelements journalled in laterally interspaced relation for rotation onsaid carrier each being rotatable on a vertical axis, at least one ofsaid idler elements having a pair of relatively upper and lower pulleyportions and all thereof having a rela tivelyupper pulley portion, thediameters of all said pulley portions being substantially the same, saidupper and lower idler pulley portions of said pair being respectivelydisposed at the level of said wheel tread and at the level of anassociated one of said shaft steps, spring means biasing said wheelmount to yieldably press said Wheel tread toward said motor shaft, andsaid carrier being adjustably laterally movable to different ofsuccessively dis- .pos'ed stations in a path of movement, which is oflike directional nature throughout, to effect disposition of any ofsaidelements at the common operative position for all thereof, whereinthe said upper pulley portion of each said operatively positionedelement is in lateral frictional engagement with said wheel tread andwherein a pulley portion of any operatively positioned of said elementsis concurrently in lateral frictional engagement with an associatedshaft step which is at the level thereof.

8. The plural-speed friction drive mechanism substantially as set forthin claim 7, characterized by said carrier being rotatable about an axialportion thereof and said elements being disposed thereon in substantialconcentricity with respect to said axial portion and processionalmovements of said elements being in a path which passes between saidmotor shaft and said final drive wheel.

9. The plural-speed friction drive mechanism substantially as set forthin claim 7, characterized by the uppermost of said shaft pulley stepsbeing at the level of the uppermost of said pulley portions of all saidelements, and one of said elements having a single pulley portion atsaid level and being adapted, in response to positioning of the elementin said common operative position, to be interposed between and makeconcurrent frictional engagement with both said uppermost pulley stepand said wheel pulley portion.

10. In a multi-speed frictional drive mechanism for phonographturntables of that type which has a pendant annular flange, thecombination with a frame unitarily supporting all parts of themechanism, said parts comprising a final drive pulley wheel adapted forperipheral friction driving engagement with a turntable flange, a motorpendantly supported by the frame with an upstanding end portion of itsshaft being of stepped formation so as to afford a plurality ofsuccessive friction pulley steps which are of relatively differentdiameters, a laterally adjustable support, a plurality of upstandingpulley elements journalled on said support for rotation on relativelylaterally interspaced axes, an uppermost friction idler pulley for eachof said elements, each said pulley being disposed at a common levelwhich corresponds to a pulley portion of said wheel, at least some ofsaid elements having, a second pulley portion disposed at a relativelylower level and a pulley portion of each said element being disposed atthe level of a different, thereby associated, pulley step of said shaft,and adjustment means, adapted for movement to any of a plurality ofstations which are located in a continuous path of like directionalnature throughout, to effect disposition of any thereby selected one ofsaid elements at a common operative position for each thereof, whereat apulley portion of the selected ele ment is frictionally engaged with ashaft step which is located at the same level, and said wheel pulleyportion is concurrently frictionally engaged with said uppermost pulleyportion of said selected element.

11. In a frictional drive mechanism for a turntable of the type which ischaracterized by the turntable having an annular flange adapted forlateral frictional engagement by a friction wheel of the mechanism,comprising in combination, a motor and an upwardly extending shaftdriven by said motor, said shaft formed with a plurality of drive areasof different diameters, a friction final drive wheel, a plurality ofidler pulleys each having a pair of coaxial relatively superposeddriving and driven pulley portions, said driving portions of the saididler pulleys being located in the plane of the final drive wheel, saiddriven portions of said idler pulleys being each located in the plane ofan associated driving area on said shaft,

r means for positioning the axis of rotation of each idler pulley in anoperating position comprising a plane defined by the axis of rotation ofthe final drive wheel and that of said shaft so that the driven portionof the idler pulley is in operational contact with the associatedportion of said shaft and the driving area of the selected idler pulleyis in operational contact with said friction final drive wheel.

12. In a frictional drive mechanism for a turntable of the type which ischaracterized by the turntable having an annular flange adapted forlateral frictional engagement 1 3 by a friction wheel of the mechanism,comprising in combination, a motor and an upwardly extending shaftdriven by said motor, said shaft formed with a plurality of drive areasof different diameters, a friction final drive wheel, a plurality ofidler pulleys each having a pair of coaxial relatively superposed upperdriving and lower driven pulley portions, said driving portions of thesaid idler pulleys being located in the plane of the final drive wheel,said driven portion of said idler pulleys being each located in theplane of an associated driving area on said shaft, means for positioningthe axis of rotation of each idler pulley in an operating positioncomprising a plane defined by the axis of rotation of the final drivewheel and that of said shaft so that the driven portion of the idlerpulley is in operational contact with the associated driving area ofsaid shaft and the driving portion of the selected idler pulley is inoperational contact with said friction final drive wheel.

13. In a frictional drive mechanism for a turntable of the type which ischaracterized by the turntable having an annular flange adapted forlateral frictional engagement by a friction wheel of the mechanism,comprising in combination, a motor and an upwardly extending shaftdriven by said motor, said shaft affording an upwardly located drivepulley having a plurality of drive areas of different diameters, afriction final drive wheel, a laterally movable mount affording ajournal adapting said wheel for rotation upon a vertical axis, aplurality of idler pulleys each having a pair of coaxial relativelysuperposed driving and driven pulley portions, said driving portions ofthe said idler pulleys being located in the plane of the final drivewheel, said driven portions of said idler pulleys being each located inthe plane of an associated driving area on said shaft, means forpositioning the axis of rotation of each idler pulley in an operatingposition comprising a plane defined by the axis of rotation of the finaldrive wheel and that of said shaft drive pulley so that the drivenportion of the idler pulley is in operational contact with theassociated portion of said shaft drive pulley and the driving portion ofthe selected idler pulley is in operational contact with said frictionfinal drive wheel.

14. In a frictional drive mechanism for a turntable of the type which ischaracterized by the turntable having an annular flange adapted forlateral frictional engagement by a friction wheel of the mechanism,comprising in combination, a motor and an upwardly extending shaftdriven by said motor, said shaft affording an upwardly located drivepulley having a plurality of drive areas of different diameters, afriction final drive wheel, a laterally movable mount affording ajournal adapting said wheel for rotation upon a vertical axis, aplurality of idler pulleys each having a pair of coaxial relativelysuperposed upper driving and lower driven pulley portions, said drivingportion of the said idler pulleys being located in the plane of thefinal drive wheel, said driven portions of the said idler pulleys beingeach located in the plane of an associated driving area on said shaft, acommon carrier affording separate laterally interposed journals for eachsaid idler pulley, said idler pulleys being thereby adapted for rotationupon relatively parallel interspaced vertical axes on said carrier,which is adjustably movable to processionally move said pulleys tosuccessively different positions which are interspaced at intervals in asingle path of pulley movements, said path being of like directionalnature throughout, and one such position of said path being a commonoperating position for said pulleys, wherein the respective upper andlower portions of an operatively positioned pulley are respectivelydisposed in peripheral engagement with said friction final drive wheeland the associated one of said drive areas of said drive shaft, saidpath of processional pulley movements extending longitudinally betweenopposite terminal portions disposed in interspaced relation to avertical plane which includes the axis of said wheel and of said drivepulley, and the intermediate portion of said path being in intersectingrelation to that portion of said plane which is interposed between saidwheel and drive pulley axes, and said operative pulley position beinglocated substantially closely to said intersection of said path and saidplane.

15. A frictional drive mechanism as defined in the immediately precedingclaim including resilient means cooperating with said laterally movablemount and carrier to assist in maintaining a drive transmission pathafter it has been established from an operatively positioned pulley tothe turntable flange, by way of said friction final drive wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,518,769 Gay Aug. 15, 1950 2,583,972 Simonson Jan. 29, 1952 2,598,138Sharp May 24, 1952

